Monster Cheesecake Squares
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Classic cheesecake made on an Oreo cookie crust and filled with clumps of monster cookie dough, these Monster Cheesecake Squares are a fun, new way to enjoy cheesecake and cookies together.
Oreo cookies. Butterscotch Pudding. Cheesecake. M&Ms. Chocolate Chips. Cookie Dough.
This may not be my first cookie-cheesecake rodeo, but it might be my most fun one yet.
Because these cheesecake squares are pure, unadulterated fun.
It might not be evident from their messy, careless cookie-cheesecake pattern, but I exercised a great deal of restraint when making these cheesecake squares. They are fun, but they were carefully crafted fun in order to create the ultimate dessert with the perfect balance of flavors and the best arrangement of textures.
Initially, I wanted to just mix everything together, drop it in a pan and go; a hodge-podge dessert made with abandon (what an easy recipe that would be to write, too).
But there is order and balance here, a protocol for maximum flavor and texture (you can have fun, even with protocols, right?). The Oreos work best when restricted just to the crust: a perfectly crisp snap of resistance. The cheesecake (which I initially wanted to actually mix with the Oreos and the cookie dough) stands alone in flavor and texture–you’re not mindlessly wading through a jumble of flavors, instead you realize it when you bite into one of the soft clods of cookie dough (which are in turn punctuated with hard pieces of chocolate) and then the creamy cheesecake. and then the crunchy Oreo cookie crust. You can enjoy all the flavors independently while at the same time relishing the way that they pair with one another (a reckless hodgepodge would have made a confusing mouthful, one taste indiscernible from the next).
Between the pudding mix, cornstarch, and additional egg yolk added to the cookie dough recipe, you end up with soft bites of cookie that aren’t difficult to bite through, even when kept cold.
While the butterscotch pudding adds a nice flavor to the cookies (I use pudding in my kitchen sink cookies and it works just as well here), if you’re vehemently not a butterscotch fan you can substitute a different flavor (I’d recommend vanilla in this instance). However, I actually don’t consider myself to be a huge butterscotch fan, but I do like the subtle flavor it lends to these squares and won’t ever make them any other way.
While checking on these as they baked through the glass of the oven door, I felt like a little kid in a candy shop–eyes glazed over with sugar-lust, jaw slack, nostrils flared as my breath fogged twin ovals on the glass (I’ll take that one and that one and, oh, definitely that one).
And then I felt like a little kid while I was eating them, and, like a little kid, I maybe sort of almost wanted to cry once they were gone.
More Recipes You Might Like:
- The best chocolate chip cookie recipe
- Monster Cookies
- Icebox Cookies
- Oreo Cheesecake
- Mini Cheesecakes
Enjoy!
Monster Cheesecake Squares
Ingredients
Crust
- 25 Oreos
- 4 Tbsp butter, melted
Cookie Dough
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 ½ cup flour
- 1 3.4 oz packet instant butterscotch pudding mix
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp corn starch
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup chocolate chips
- ¾ cup mini, baking M&Ms
Cheesecake
- 4 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup sour cream
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Crust
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line 13x9 pan with foil (enough so that foil hangs over 9" sides--this will make it easier to lift out of the pan and cut once the squares are finished)
- In food processor, pulse Oreos and melted butter until combined.25 Oreos, 4 Tbsp butter
- Press Oreo/butter mixture evenly into the bottom of prepared pan with the back of a spoon.
Cookie Dough
- In KitchenAid (or with hand mixer) cream butter and sugars.1 stick butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar
- Add egg and egg yolk until well-combined.1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- Stir in vanilla.1 tsp vanilla
- In separate, medium-sized bowl combine flour, pudding mix, baking powder, corn starch and salt.1 ½ cup flour, 1 3.4 oz packet instant butterscotch pudding mix, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp corn starch, ½ tsp salt
- Gradually, with mixer on low-medium speed, stir flour mixture into butter mixture.
- Stir in chocolate chips and M&Ms. Transfer to another bowl and set aside, clean your KitchenAid bowl and paddle to make the cheesecake batter.¾ cup chocolate chips, ¾ cup mini
- Take approximately ½ of the cookie dough and scatter approximately ½"-1 ½" pieces over the crust in the prepared pan. Set aside.
Cheesecake
- In KitchenAid (or with hand mixer), cream cream cheese. Add sugar and beat on medium-speed until well-combined.4 8 oz packages cream cheese, 1 cup sugar
- Add in sour cream, stirring until just combined.½ cup sour cream
- Stir in vanilla.1 tsp vanilla extract
- With mixer on low speed, add in eggs one at a time, stirring until just combined.3 eggs
- Pour cheesecake batter into prepared pan over cookie dough.
- Scatter the remaining cookie dough (you will probably have to break off pieces of the dough to the desired size) over the top of the cheesecake batter, pressing slightly into the batter.
- Transfer to oven and bake for 45-50 minutes (edges should be set, center may jiggle slightly but should spring back if lightly touched and should not be liquid).
- Allow to cool on stovetop for at least one hour before transferring to refrigerator and allowing to chill for at least 6 hours before cutting and serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
OMGosh Sam – these look so good. A monster cookie AND cheesecake? You brilliant, girl! xoxo
Haha, thank you so much, Kristi! 😀
Cheesecake? Pudding? M&M? Stop it, please! Okay, don’t stop:) I love you didn’t just threw all the components in a pan but followed the protocol! This protocol didn’t let you down – well done!:)
Thank you, Ben! 🙂
Looks like my kind of cheesecake!
Haha, thank you, Kathy!
Oh my gosh! Yummmmm!! These cheesecake squares are calling my name… they are to die for.. 😀
Thanks, Arpita!! 😀
These look amazing! I need to make as soon as possible!
Thank you, Marsha!!
Yum so much goodness in one square! These are great for a kids party (or a sneaky adult sweet!)
Thank you, Dani!
Oh. my. yum. Now these are the ultimate cheesecake squares! I love every single thing in them and I know my family will too! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Joscelyn! 🙂
So many goodies in just one bar. I mean, there’s chocolate chips, Oreos, M&Ms and the cheesecake itself which is one of my favorites. Well done, such a fun idea!
Thank you, Oana!!
Oh my gawsh. You should call your protocol for these monster delicious bars GENIUS! These are craaaazy, Sam! Like crazy amazing! My niece and nephew would devour these like no bodies buisness!! Totally making these for them when they come visit!!! Happy friday, girlfriend and Cheers! Xo
Haha, thanks so much Cheyanne! They definitely are a hit with kids! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
These squares have all of my favourite things in them! M&M’s, oreos, cookie dough and cheesecake, yay!!! Amazing!! You make the best creations. I could eat all of these in one go!!!
😀 Thank you, Harriet!!
These are the ultimate cheesecake bars! Love all the goodies you packed into them! So fun, decadent and irresistible!
Thank you, Kelly!
Oh my goodness what a delicious dessert! Looks amazing!
Thank you, Shelby!
Wow! these look incredible Sam! There is soooo much goodness happening in this recipe, love all the awesome flavors incorporated here! pinned! 🙂
Thank you, Ana!!
These are next-level decadence! I love how over the top these squares are- they look delicious 🙂 Pinning!
Thanks so much, Medha!!
I love the title of these. There is also so much going on with them, I don’t know what to get excited about first.
Haha, thank you Dannii!